Modern Love

By WBUR and The New York Times

Modern Love features top actors performing true stories of love, loss, and redemption. It has included performances by Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Angela Bassett, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sterling K. Brown, and more. A collaboration between WBUR and The New York Times.

"Lolita," Vladimir Nabokov’s novel about a man’s sexual obsession with a young girl, is famously controversial. But when Bindu Bansinath started to read it, it unexpectedly became a kind of road map for her, showing her a way out of the situation she was in.
Jameela Jamil ("I Weigh") reads her piece.

Living alone can be liberating, maddening, joyful ... lonely. It also might feel very different today than it did several months ago.
This episode features stories from people who live alone, telling us how they are doing right now.

If you're running out of things to do at home — or if you just need a break from stress and worry — we have a suggestion. Listen to this week's episode featuring Gillian Jacobs and Mandy Len Catron, and then try the 36 questions that (may) lead to love.
You can find the 36 questions here: https://nyti.ms/2SFbICi

When you’re in a new relationship, you’re always trying to present your best self. But anyone who’s been in a relationship for awhile knows that you can’t keep the act up forever.
David Finch writes about that in his essay, which is read by Daniel Radcliffe. Daniel stars in the upcoming "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" interactive special on Netflix.

There's something wonderful about sharing your favorite books with the person you're falling in love with. And Karla Derus was a longtime book lover, dating a man who was also a big reader. But Karla also had a secret.
Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba ("Mrs. America") reads Karla's essay.

Could you use a little extra comfort and love from afar right now? We thought so. We're sharing an episode of another WBUR podcast, "Endless Thread." This is a story about processing grief, and where we turn when the people closest to us don't seem to know what to do or say to help us move forward.
If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to "Endless Thread" wherever you get your podcasts. More info here: https://smarturl.it/endlessthread

Love is about trust. But have you ever been tempted to breach that trust? To read someone's diary, check their text messages, or read their emails? Jessalyn Gilsig reads an essay by Joyce Maynard about facing that temptation.

"Never tell our business to strangers." That's what Jennifer Mascia was told growing up. But it wasn't until she was an adult that she learned the reason why.
Ruth Wilson (HBO's "His Dark Materials") reads Jennifer's essay about discovering a dark family secret.

"I’ve noticed that there is a strange hierarchy of handholding that dictates who gets to express physical affection without repercussions," Nicole Dennis-Benn writes in this week's Modern Love story. It's read by 15-time Grammy Award winning artist Alicia Keys, whose new single is called "Show Me Love."

We want to introduce you to another podcast we think you might love, called Kind World. It features stories of life-changing acts of kindness. And this week's story features a story from the US/ Mexico border.

We make decisions every day that shape our lives in small ways. But it's rare to face a real crossroads — a choice between living one life, and living another that's entirely different.
Zawe Ashton ("Betrayal") reads an essay by Ingrid Maitland, who writes about making a choice like that.

When he was working in Nevada, Justin Race met a woman he thought was perfect for him. The only problem? They had only ever talked to each other through Words With Friends.
Justin's essay is read by Tony-winning actor Ben Platt, who stars in the new show "The Politician" on Netflix.

In 2013, Ann Leary wrote an essay about a rough patch in her marriage. We turned it into an episode of the Modern Love Podcast. And now, Ann's story been adapted for television.
In this episode, we revisit actress Connie Nielsen's performance of Ann's essay. Then, we'll hear a live conversation between Ann, Modern Love editor Daniel Jones, and podcast producer Caitlin O'Keefe. They talk about what happened next for Ann and her husband, and what it was like for Ann to have her essay adapted for the Modern Love television show.

When Aaron Long donated sperm twenty-five years ago, he didn't realize that one day he would discover that he had ten biological children. But that's what happened when he signed up for 23andMe.
Kal Penn stars in the NBC comedy "Sunnyside". He reads Aaron's essay.

Andrew Rannells has been nominated for two Tony Awards. He starred in HBO's "Girls." But before any of that, he was just like a lot of 20-somethings — trying to make his career happen, and dreaming about his perfect boyfriend.

This week's essay is about a deep, enduring friendship that starts in an unlikely place. Jeannie Vanasco writes about her relationship with a woman named Anita in her essay, "My Platonic Romance on the Psych Ward."
It's read by actress and director Miriam Shor, who stars in TV Land’s “Younger" and the upcoming Netflix film "Lost Girls."

When people first come into our lives, it's impossible to know how important they'll become. Leah Keith writes about a man who came to matter a great deal to her in her essay, which is read by Marsha Stephanie Blake ("When They See Us")

A lot of things can get in the way of love -- distance, money issues, being in different places in your life. But this week's essayist, Amanda Gefter, writes about facing a very different kind of challenge.
It's read by Logan Browning (Netflix's "Dear White People").

If Meredith Hall had to point to the year that her life changed, she would probably say that it was 1965. She was sixteen that year, and pregnant with a son.
But more than two decades later, in 1987, her life changed again -- and that's the year she writes about in her essay. It's read by Marcia Cross ("Desperate Housewives," "Quantico").

High school love is awkward, nervous -- and often unforgettable. It doesn't usually last. But in this week's essay, Mariclare Lawson writes about a high school love that broke all the rules.
It's read by Amanda Seyfried ("The Art of Racing in the Rain.")

What do you do when you're struggling to find a romantic relationship as deep as the relationship you have with your best friend? John Cameron Mitchell ("Anthem: Homunculus") reads Ephi Stempler's essay about a man considering a platonic life partnership.

How have you gotten through your worst breakups? Tinder? New hobbies? Cheap alcohol? Wallowing in Taylor Swift albums?
William Jackson Harper ("The Good Place," "Midsommar") is back to read Mark McDevitt's piece about two breakup buddies.

What does luck mean to you? And how does that change depending on your circumstances? That's what Joyce Maynard writes about in this week's essay. It's read by two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver ("Perpetual Grace, LTD").

When you're dealing with a tragedy, it can feel like you would do anything for an ordinary day. But those ordinary days can come with their own complications. Ginnifer Goodwin ("The Twilight Zone") reads Monica Wesolowska's essay.

When we take stock of the people who matter most to us, there are the spouses, the family members, the best friends, the partners. And then there are the people who aren’t any of those things, but who change our lives anyway.
Emily Raboteau's essay is about one of those people. It's read by Lake Bell ("Bless this Mess.")

Under normal circumstances, trying to find love can be challenging -- and stressful. And for Elizabeth Koster, the pressure was even more intense. Sarah Goldberg (HBO's "Barry") reads Elizabeth's essay.

Love thrives on good communication. It can take many forms -- but what happens when you suddenly lose what was once your primary means of communication? Pedro Pascal ("King Lear," "Game of Thrones") reads Jamison's essay.

What happens when you know you want to marry someone, but you are also are falling in love with someone else? Is there a way for you to have everything?
Sophie Lucido Johnson's essay is read by DeWanda Wise ("She's Gotta Have It").

Interracial relationships come with their own complexities, and there are a lot of questions that come up. Questions like: How does your partner think about race? How do you talk about it? What works, and what doesn't?
Kim McLarin writes about race and dating in her piece, which is read by Lorraine Toussaint ("The Village").

When it comes to dating, Amy Cohen says this: "We all need to be reincarnated as an older Jewish man with an apartment on the Upper East Side.” Natasha Lyonne ("Russian Doll") reads Amy's essay about the difference between her 76-year-old father's dating life and her own.

Dementia can alter someone's personality and change how how they interact with the world. But sometimes, it can also lead to moments of profound connection.
Jenny McPhee writes about one of those moments in her piece, which is read by Zoe Saldana.

Therapists' offices are supposed to be places where you can be both vulnerable and safe. But what happens when your therapist crosses a line? That happened to Julianna Baggott -- and she writes about it an an essay that's read by Isabelle Huppert ("Greta").

You know the phase. The one when you're going back and forth between your place and your partner's, and you have to bring all your stuff with you.
But when is it time to make a change? Deanna Clevesy's essay is read by Christina Hendricks ("Good Girls").

Have you ever dated someone living in a studio apartment with a pet? If so, how did you handle the logistics around sex?
Ryan Pfeffer writes about how he dealt with that situation in his essay, which was performed by William Jackson Harper ("The Good Place") in front of a live audience at the Huntington Avenue Theatre in Boston.

Last week, you heard an essay by Amy Krouse Rosenthal -- "You May Want to Marry my Husband." It was published just days before she died of ovarian cancer.
Today, André Holland of "High Flying Bird" reads the essay her husband Jason wrote in response last summer, and we hear from Jason himself about how he's doing today.

It's easy to single out the biggest decisions in a life. But this week's essay by Ann Leary is about little choices, that you might not think about very much in the moment, that end up slowly changing everything. It's read by Connie Nielsen ("I Am the Night").

How do you talk to your children about loss? What secrets do you keep, and for how long? And when do you decide to tell them everything? Emily Listfield faces those questions in her essay, read by Carmen Ejogo ("True Detective.")

When you think back to sex ed class, it's not hard to come up with a couple of memories that might have scarred you for life. But actor Gillian Anderson reads an essay that shows it can be equally scarring for the parents.

When people ask for advice, do they really want to hear what you have to say? Sometimes it's hardest to find a friend who can give just a simple, sympathetic ear.
Actor Laura Dern takes us deep into a friendship that experienced a unique evolution. This is an encore presentation.

Getting undressed in front of your partner can be really hard. And for Jameson Rich, is was even more complicated. He writes about it in his piece, which is read by Finn Wittrock ("Write When You Get Work").

We cross paths with so many people in our lives -- but only a few of them truly change the direction we thought we were headed in. Busy Philipps ("Busy Tonight") reads Laurie Sandell's piece, about the little girl who changed her path.

Would you start online dating just to make your best friend feel better? Author Victoria Redel did that, and she writes about in her piece, which is read by actor and singer Rita Wilson ("Bigger Picture").

We’re back in your feed to share a project we think you’ll love. It’s a new podcast called “Last Seen,” about the largest unsolved art heist in history -- the theft of thirteen irreplaceable pieces of art from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner museum.

This playlist episode features stories about people whose relationships were challenged by illness -- and where the promise to stand by each other "in sickness and in health" was tested. It features stories read by Michael Shannon, Sarah Silverman, Chris Messina, Rebecca Hall, and Patina Miller.

It can feel easier to leave things unspoken than to find the right words to explain ourselves. But sooner or later, the things we keep from each other can come to define our relationships. This edition of Modern Love features a playlist of three of our favorite episodes about secrets, read by Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Nixon, and Uma Thurman.

Communication. Respect. Intimacy. Doing the dishes. Those are all things that have been called the secret to marriage. But Gabrielle Zevin has a different idea. Sandra Oh ("Killing Eve") reads her piece.

We know you appreciate a good love story ... so we're bringing you two stories of relationships that have stood the test of time, from another podcast from WBUR, called "Endless Thread." Hear the story of the couple featured in an iconic photo from Woodstock, and one about a relationship that started with a note sent in second grade.

The emotions of parenting can feel completely out of control sometimes. Whether it's love, joy ... or, occasionally, rage. Susan Perabo writes about them in her essay, which is read by Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt").

Sometimes, our deepest loves aren't people at all -- they're the places that make us feel most like ourselves. Laura Dave tells a story about one of those places in her essay, which is read by Diane Guerrero ("Orange is the New Black").

Aspen Matis decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail because she was looking for solitude, safety, and escape. She writes about what she found there in her essay, read by actor and comic Cameron Esposito.

As a teenager in Finland, Kalle Oskari Mattila was trying to figure out who he was. For help, he turned to Pamela Anderson. Cory Michael Smith ("1985," "Gotham") performed his story live at the Provincetown Film Festival.

"What did it mean that the most romantic thing I’d ever been a part of hadn’t even happened to me?" Chloë Grace Moretz ("The Miseducation of Cameron Post") reads Rachel Monroe's essay about watching a love story unfold from the sidelines.

The challenge of finding the perfect partner is matched only by the challenge of finding the perfect parking space in New York City. Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld") reads Andy Raskin's essay, about the search for love and parking in Chinatown.

When she was growing up, Susan Sajadi thought that her mother was fearless. It wasn't until years later that she realized the truth was much more complicated. Her piece is read by Sarah Shahi, who stars in NBC's "Reverie."

For the 13th anniversary of the Modern Love column, readers sent in their love stories, told in just 13 words. More than 9,000 were submitted. We put together an episode featuring some of our favorites.

Sometimes it's the things that go unspoken in a relationship that are the most important. Andrea Jarrell found that out not long after moving to Maine with her husband -- and she writes about it in her piece, read by Kim Dickens ("Fear the Walking Dead").

After Stephanie Saldaña moved to an ancient monastery in Syria, she thought she'd found her calling. But when she met a novice monk there, she had to rethink everything. Linda Cardellini ("Bloodline") reads Stephanie's essay.

When you're at a bar and someone starts paying more attention to you than you expect -- how do you react? Mel Rodriguez ("Overboard," "The Last Man on Earth") reads Andy Christie's essay, about trying to navigate an unexpected flirtation.

What happens to relationships when they play out entirely over text? Krysten Ritter ("Jessica Jones") reads Sandra Barron's essay, about the miscommunications that can come with text message flirtation.

We can't control the curve balls life throws at us, but we can control how we handle them. Cynthia Addai-Robinson (USA Network's "Shooter") reads a story about choosing to face one of life's greatest challenges alone.

Mother's Day is over -- for this year. Some people really look forward to those chocolates and flowers and others write a Modern Love essay bemoaning the day's existence. Broadway actor Gideon Glick ("Spring Awakening," "Significant Other") reads.
Modern Love
is brought to you by COUPLES THERAPY, a new Showtime docu-series following four couples during their weekly sessions with a world-class therapist.
It’s a raw and intimate peek into the hidden world of other people’s relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbWAWnWuio

Anna Chlumsky ("Veep") tells the story of the 90 days that changed the entire course of one family's life.
Modern Love
is brought to you by COUPLES THERAPY, a new Showtime docu-series following four couples during their weekly sessions with a world-class therapist.
It’s a raw and intimate peek into the hidden world of other people’s relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbWAWnWuio

Tituss Burgess, the Emmy-nominated star of the Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," reads us a story about teenage dreams -- the good, the bad, and the prom.
Modern Love
is brought to you by COUPLES THERAPY, a new Showtime docu-series following four couples during their weekly sessions with a world-class therapist.
It’s a raw and intimate peek into the hidden world of other people’s relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbWAWnWuio

Melanie Lynskey of "Togetherness" and the new film "Little Boxes" tells the story of a neighborhood bully and the faltering marriage he inadvertently strengthened.
Modern Love
is brought to you by COUPLES THERAPY, a new Showtime docu-series following four couples during their weekly sessions with a world-class therapist.
It’s a raw and intimate peek into the hidden world of other people’s relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbWAWnWuio

Harry Lennix of NBC's "The Blacklist" reads the story of a couple who never saw their 22-year age difference as an issue. That is, until one of them had a heart attack.
Modern Love
is brought to you by COUPLES THERAPY, a new Showtime docu-series following four couples during their weekly sessions with a world-class therapist.
It’s a raw and intimate peek into the hidden world of other people’s relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbWAWnWuio